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What's the best way to deal with emotional blackmail from a partner?

Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jan 1, 2015
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Call their bluff. Get out of that game. Show them you aren't afraid. Take back your power. And if they are doing anything abusive or illegal, let them know you will go to the police. And then follow through. Because you deserve better.
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Profile: lucidalice
lucidalice on May 28, 2015
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If someone is emotionally blackmailing you, it sounds like you need to gradually cut that person out from your life. Talk to them about it, but if they're unwilling to recognise that such behaviour is manipulative, you're really better off without this person. Build a close knit of friends around you as your support system who will be able to back you up when your partner continuously threatens you.
Profile: sweetCupcake26
sweetCupcake26 on Dec 31, 2014
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Understanding how your manipulator is preying on your emotions to control your actions is the first step in regaining control. In their book "Emotional Blackmail," Susan Forward and Donna Frazier explain that manipulators often use a tactic consisting of fear, obligation and guilt (FOG) to get what they want. Blackmailers use FOG to make you fear angering or disappointing them, obligated to meet their demands, and guilty if you don't comply. They use these tactics to appeal to your emotions, make their demands seem reasonable, and make you seem selfish if you don't give them what they want. Next time you are resistant to your partner's requests and end up giving in, determine if he used FOG techniques to influence you. Try to use a perspective from someone outside of your relationship to shed light on the behaviors used. Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4563114_recognize-handle-emotional-blackmail.html
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jun 6, 2015
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Just tell them that what they are doing is not alright and you feel very uncomfortable with how they're acting. In my opinion, the best course of action would be to just get rid of them. You don't want a partner like that.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 19, 2016
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Emotional blackmail is a form of mental abuse, you have to confront them and ask a therapist for help, or the cycle will continue.
Profile: HealingLotus
HealingLotus on May 6, 2015
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The best way is to leave them. Emotional blackmail is no joke. However I don't know how people gauge it. You can to infer if it's something small or if it's actual abuse. Knowing if they have other red flags will help you.
Profile: mimo29
mimo29 on Jan 1, 2015
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Consult the objective opinion of a friend who knows both you, and your partner, because when you are being emotionally blackmailed, it can be difficult to tell on your own. Your partner may have made you think of them as the victim, rather than the abuser. When calling out your partner on the emotional blackmail, your friend's assurance that you deserve better will strengthen your resolve; you can even bring your friend along for support, particularly if your partner is capable of, or even prone to, physical violence. Should the situation not improve thereafter, don't be afraid to leave the partner, but try not to embitter the person, and try to help the person understand they are in the wrong. They may even need professional help if this is a common problem in their relationships. Hopefully this will all keep your partner from hurting anyone else, including yourself.
Profile: ErictheRed7
ErictheRed7 on Jun 18, 2015
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You step back and compose yourself. Assess the situation. Seek help. Seek a way to end it. Make it stop. Stay Strong and positive. Fight the feeling.
Profile: Love2Help07
Love2Help07 on Sep 24, 2016
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If its happening with you than YOU should better show him/her that you dont care anymore and let that go. He/She can realize it with time that he/ she can no more take your feelings for granted.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Feb 24, 2017
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Learn to say NO. Saying "I don't.." rather than "I can't..." can be more effective in preventing you from giving in. Establish boundaries; when your personal priorities become more important to you than pleasing other people, you will no longer fall prey to emotional manipulation. Value your own wants and needs and preferences. Set boundaries that don’t allow others to invalidate you, put you down, or ignore what is important to you.
Profile: LetsTalkLife24
LetsTalkLife24 on Dec 27, 2017
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If your partner is emotionally manipulating you in any form, chances are that you are in a toxic relationship with that person. As hard as it may be to admit, your partner does not have your best interests at heart and it is likely time to separate. Anyone who tries to take advantage of you does not really care about you, and does not deserve your time.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jan 8, 2015
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First of all, you yourself have to monitor and identify that such blackmail is taking place. Second, you have to face your partner that you will not accept such actions and try to talk through it.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Nov 27, 2016
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Never feel guilty about separating yourself from that person. It is your right to make your own personal, separate plans to exit that person's life, whether or not they understand. They have proven that they are unwilling to communicate and work together with you, so it is up to you to move on, and that is okay!
Profile: mooninsky9
mooninsky9 on Sep 28, 2015
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Understand the reason they are using it against you. If a partner seems to be calling you out on a certain thing, chances are he/she/they are feeling as if you are not responding to them. Take a moment, find a way to talk to them with each of you having a clear mind, and talk to each other to find out the reason behind the blackmail.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 20, 2016
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Tell him to stop the blackmail, if he don't he means to harm you, so leave him.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Nov 11, 2016
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Try to talk to someone you trust, and honestly, mindset is very important. You need to make yourself believe that self love is the most important and that you don't need to depend on anyone else emotionally.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Mar 11, 2017
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This is such a horrible thing to go through. There is never one right or wrong answer with things like this. It is important to know that one does not have to deal with this on one's ow! Seek someone to talk about the matter and if possibly and most importantly if safe! Discuss the issue with the partner
Profile: Sunshine201
Sunshine201 on Mar 25, 2017
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Emotional blackmailing from partner is hard situation to deal with, but with some external support ,and by using your own ways of coping with it, the impact of it can be minimized. Consider never to give up emotionally in front of your partner, let it clear to your partner by your words that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable to you, the professional support is available for a reason, don't hesitate to seek it,
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jul 27, 2015
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Remove yourself from the situation, surround yourself with positive people and get yourself some support.
Profile: KeshavDev
KeshavDev on Apr 14, 2018
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The most important person in this world is no one else but YOU. If your partner is emotionally blackmailing you, the first thing you should be doing is talk to them about the same, if they still persist with their manipulative behavior, it seems you need to cut this person off from your life gradually. To do so, I would suggest you surround yourself with friends and family who would support you and will be able to back you up in the time of need.
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